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Father and son indicted on suspicion of assaulting San Angelo police officer in local bar

SAN ANGELO — A grand jury indicted two men — a father and son — this month on charges they assaulted a police officer after a heated exchange between patrons inside a San Angelo night club, according to court records.

On Oct. 20, 2018, two San Angelo police officers were working off-duty security at a night club in the 1600 block of South Chadbourne Street when a "brewing confrontation began between several patrons inside the club," according to an affidavit.

Police say an officer saw Ruben Fernandez, 29, "being restrained by an unknown man attempting to get Fernandez out of the club" during a heated exchange, according to the affidavit.

Arrest photo of Ruben Fernandez(Photo: Tom Green County Jail)

As the fracas continued, a police officer saw a man later identified as Antonio Fernandez, 51, yelling at other patrons in a confrontational manner, records state.

The police officer attempted to remove Antonio from the club to end the escalating tension, but while doing so Antonio Fernandez punched the police officer in the face, according to the affidavit.

As the officer confronted Antonio Fernandez, police say Ruben Fernandez rushed from behind and punched the officer three times in the face, according to the affidavit.

Additional officers were called to the club and arrested the men, records state.

When questioned, police say Ruben Fernandez told officers he saw his father in a fight, "and just reacted."

Police noted Antonio Fernandez apologized for his actions and denied knowing the person he punched was a police officer, despite the officer dressed in full uniform, according to the affidavit.

Both men were booked into the Tom Green County Jail and charged with assaulting a peace officer, a second degree felony, according to an indictment.

Online court records show both were released from jail that same day in lieu of a $30,000 bond each.

Their first court appearance has been tentatively scheduled for January 2019, according to online court documents.

An indictment is not indicative of guilt. Indictments mean a grand jury believes a prosecutor has enough evidence to take a felony case to trial.